bartlett



(No Model.)

3 Sheets--Sheet 1. J. WVBARTLETT.

CHECK ROW DEVICE FOR PLANTERS.

No. 398,485. Patented Feb. 26,, 1889.

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J. W. BARTLETT.

CHECK ROW DEVIOE FOR PLANTERS.

Patented Feb. 26, 1889 3513 W Gwen mug (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. J.W. BARTLETT.

CHECK ROW DEVICE FOR PLA'NTERS.

No. 398,485. Patentedfeb. 26, 1889.

IIIHH qwvr/weoom ammwto'c UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JOIIN \V. BARTLETT, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOLINE PLOW"COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CHECK-ROW Dev ce FOR PLANTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,485, dated February26, 1889.

Application filed June 8, 1888. Serial No. 276,514. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

I Be it known that 1, JOHN WV. BARTLETT, of Moline, in the county ofRock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements inCheck-Row Devices for Seeders, of 1 which the following is aspecification.

' At the presentday it is a common practice to operate the seed-droppingmechanism of corn-planters by means of knotted wires or cords stretchedacross the field from side to side and attached to anchors at theirends, these wires being commonly known as checkrowing wires. In the useof these wires it is the custom to drive the machine across the fieldunder the wire in one path and to return the machine in a different pathparallel with the first, after whichthe wire is shifted laterally at thepoints of commencement. As the machine completes its return movement inthe new path it causes the wire or cord to be strain ed laterally inrelation to the anchor.

It is the aim of my invention to provide an anchor by which the wire orcord may be held rigidly in position until the planter in its returnmovement is brought near to or abreast of the anchor, and which willthen automatically unlock the end of the ,wire and retain the same witha yielding strain, so that the planter may continue its course to theextreme, edge of the field. To this end I pro vide an anchoring devicehaving a blade to enter the ground, a spring-actuated drum or take -upwith a cord for attachment to the check rowing wire, and an automaticlatch by which the cord is rigidly held independently of the winding-drum and prevented from unwinding until the wire is urged laterallyby the approaching planter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myanchor as it appears with the wire-holding arm unhooked. Fig. 2 is avertical central section through the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on the line a a of Fig. I. Fig. 4c is a vertical section throughthe lower part of the case on the line y 31 Fig. 5 is a side elevationof my anchor with the side of the casing removed to show the internalwinding-spring.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a flat circular body recessed inits two sides,

provided at its lop with a socket, a, to receive the wooden stalf orhandle (0 and provided at its lower side with a projection, d recessedto receive the upper end of a flat blade, B, which is secured firmlytherein by a bolt, 17, or equivalent fastening device. The projection atthe lower side of the case is provided on one side with a stop or footpiece, a", by means of which the operator is enabled to force the bladedeeply and firmly into the ground in order to fix the anchor inposition.

The blade is constructed of a fiat or angular form in cross-section, inorder to prevent its rotation in the ground and to hold the de viceagainst turning when subjected to side strain, as hereinafter explained.While I prefer a flat blade, such as represented in the drawings, it maybe modified in cross-section, provided only its form is such as toarrest the turning motion ,in the ground.

The two recessed sides of the case are covered by flanged side plates, o'lhrough the center of the case there is passed a shaft, 0,

the ends of which are reduced and formed 1 with journals bearing on theside plates, which latter are held in place by pins 0, passed throughthese journals.

A strong coiled spring, I), is seated in one side of the case or bodyand secured at one extremity thereto, and at the opposite or innerextremity secured to the central shaft, C. In the other side of the caseis located a wheel or drum, E, keyed orotherwise securely fastcued tothe shaft and provided with a pcripheral groove. A cord, F, is woundwithin the periphery of the pulley and fixed at one end thereto, itsopposite end being passed outward through a hole in the lower side ofthe case and permanently attached to an arm or latch, G. The spring,being under tension, acts through the shaft to turn the pulley and keepthe cord wound normally thereon, so that the arm G can be drawn from thecase only by the application of considerable power.

The case or body is provided at its lower side with a rigid horizontalarm or extension, at, having on its side face a stud, (L7, designed toenter a hole, g, in the arm G, for the purpose of establishing a rigidconnection between the arm and the anchor proper. A

- of or is carried past the anchor.

spring, II, secured to the case or body, stands at its free end oppositethe stud 0, for the purpose of holding the arm G in engagementtherewith. \Vhen, however, a lateral strain is applied to the outer endof the arm G, the spring will yield and permit its disengagement.

The operation of the anchor is as follows: The arm G is first engagedupon the stud a as shown in Fig. 3. The planterbeing at one side of thefield, the anchor is set in line directly behind its check rowingmechanism and the operating cord or wire attached to the end of the armor latch G. The planter is then driven across the field and returned ina different path, as usual. During this time the arm G remains in rigidconnection with the anchor until the planter closely approaches theanchor in its return movement, whereupon the wire, being drawn laterallyby the planter, causes the arm Gto tip sidewise and disengage from thestud The movement of the planter is continued until it stands oppositethe side During this final movement the strain upon the arm G causes thecord F to overcome the resistance of the spring and unwind from thedrum, the spring acting through the intermediate parts to maintain ayielding strain on the checkrow wire. The anchor is then withdrawn fromthe ground, either with or without disconnecting the wire from the armG, and the operation repeated, the cord F being automatically retractedby the drum, and the arm or latch G being again engaged previous to thenext course of the planter.

IVhile I have represented the preferred construction in all the details,it is to be understood that the essence of my invention resides in thecombination, with the anchor, of an arm or latch, G, adapted to bedisengaged therefrom, and a yielding cord or winding device to hold saidlatch after its disengagement, and it is manifest that the details maybe modified within the range of mechanical skill.

It is to be noted that in my device the winding-drum and spring do notact to maintain the tension of the wire or cord or retain its end untilthe planter has crossed the field and passed the anchor at the end ofits journey. During the normal condition of the parts, and While themachine is crossing the field between the anchors, the cord is heldrigidly by the latch, the spring and drum remaining inert and withouteffectv or influence on the other parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an anchor fora check-row wire or cord, the combination of a case or body having ablade to enter the ground, the windingdrum and its actuating-spring, thecord attached to and winding on the drum, and the arm or latch G,attached to said Winding-cord and adapted to receive the check-row Wire,and also adapted to engage directly and detachably with the body.

2. In an anchor for a check-row wire, the case or body having the flator angular blade adapted to resist rotation in the ground, the stud aand spring H, and the laterally-detachable arm G, adapted to engage thestud, said elements constructed and combined, as described, to permitthe lateral disengagement of the arm G.

3. In an anchor for a check-row wire, the combination of a body havingthe flattened or angular blade adapted to enter the ground and resistrotation therein and an arm or latch, G, to receive the check-row wiredirect-1y interlocked with the body and adapted to disengage therefromby a lateral movement.

4:. The case recessed in its two sides and provided with an anchoringblade and handle, in combination with the central shaft, the spring, thedrum or pulley, the cord Winding on the drum, and the arm or latchattached to said cord.

5. The case recessed in its two sides, the side plates applied thereto,and the central shaft provided with the plate-holding pins, incombination with the spring, pulley, and cord, as shown.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 16th day of May, 1888,in the presence. of two attesting witnesses.

JOHN \V. BARTLETT. lVitnesses:

A. R. BRYANT, S. C. WHEELocK.

